Published: Monday, November 19, 2012 at 6:34 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, November 19, 2012 at 6:34 p.m.

SARASOTA - City Commissioner Terry Turner moved to fire City Auditor and Clerk Pamela Nadalini on Monday because she did not qualify for a low-cost bond, like other city officials.

His motion failed after none of the commissioners seconded the action, but Turner said he had to put his long-standing concern on the record.

"It's clear there's a problem with (Nadalini's) character and integrity," he said.

Some top city officials are required under the city charter to obtain a bond, which would protect Sarasota in case they commit any wrongdoing.

The bonds act like insurance but include rigorous background checks and are more difficult to obtain, and past issues with credit or finances can make them expensive.

Nadalini has been out of compliance with the charter since 2010, when she failed to get a bond. She has instead been covered by an insurance plan, City Attorney Robert Fournier said at a commission meeting this summer.

Nadalini said Monday she has no idea why she was not able to get a bond before.

A charter amendment on the Nov. 6 ballot would have changed the rules to allow her to use insurance instead. That amendment failed.

In the meantime, Nadalini got approved for a $100,000 bond and the city shopped around to find the best deal.

The bond is from carrier United States Fire Insurance Co. and costs $9,350 per year, roughly 20 times more expensive than the other two officials who are required to be bonded, Finance Director Chris Lyons and City Manager Tom Barwin.

If Nadalini was able to obtain the bond at a similar price to Barwin and Lyons — $444 and $507 — Turner said he would not have moved to fire her.

"She basically put all the commissioners in a position of violating their oaths of office for three years," he said.

Nadalini said after she initially was unable to get a bond, she was told by city staff not to worry about it.

"I kind of allowed them to handle this," she said.

But later Nadalini decided to take the matter into her own hands and get approved, because she said did not want to put the city in a bad position.

Turner said at Monday's commission meeting that Nadalini should have been fired long ago, before she became auditor and clerk, because she was operating a real estate company while at work.

Her employment agreement with the city states that she was active as a broker with Nadalini & Company Inc., and says she must make the company inactive within 60 days.

Nadalini said she did so, and was not operating her company out of City Hall.

"It's just no truth to that," she said. She was unsure whether that played into the cost of her bond, but said she just wants to continue to serve the city.

<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - City Commissioner Terry Turner moved to fire City Auditor and Clerk Pamela Nadalini on Monday because she did not qualify for a low-cost bond, like other city officials.</p><p>His motion failed after none of the commissioners seconded the action, but Turner said he had to put his long-standing concern on the record.</p><p>"It's clear there's a problem with (Nadalini's) character and integrity," he said. </p><p>Some top city officials are required under the city charter to obtain a bond, which would protect Sarasota in case they commit any wrongdoing. </p><p>The bonds act like insurance but include rigorous background checks and are more difficult to obtain, and past issues with credit or finances can make them expensive. </p><p>Nadalini has been out of compliance with the charter since 2010, when she failed to get a bond. She has instead been covered by an insurance plan, City Attorney Robert Fournier said at a commission meeting this summer. </p><p>Nadalini said Monday she has no idea why she was not able to get a bond before. </p><p>A charter amendment on the Nov. 6 ballot would have changed the rules to allow her to use insurance instead. That amendment failed.</p><p>In the meantime, Nadalini got approved for a $100,000 bond and the city shopped around to find the best deal.</p><p>The bond is from carrier United States Fire Insurance Co. and costs $9,350 per year, roughly 20 times more expensive than the other two officials who are required to be bonded, Finance Director Chris Lyons and City Manager Tom Barwin. </p><p>If Nadalini was able to obtain the bond at a similar price to Barwin and Lyons — $444 and $507 — Turner said he would not have moved to fire her.</p><p>"She basically put all the commissioners in a position of violating their oaths of office for three years," he said. </p><p>Nadalini said after she initially was unable to get a bond, she was told by city staff not to worry about it.</p><p>"I kind of allowed them to handle this," she said. </p><p>But later Nadalini decided to take the matter into her own hands and get approved, because she said did not want to put the city in a bad position. </p><p>Turner said at Monday's commission meeting that Nadalini should have been fired long ago, before she became auditor and clerk, because she was operating a real estate company while at work. </p><p>Her employment agreement with the city states that she was active as a broker with Nadalini & Company Inc., and says she must make the company inactive within 60 days. </p><p>Nadalini said she did so, and was not operating her company out of City Hall. </p><p>"It's just no truth to that," she said. She was unsure whether that played into the cost of her bond, but said she just wants to continue to serve the city. </p><p>"The important thing is, I have it now," Nadalini said of the bond.</p>